Section 5-556 - Child abuse. - Maryland Statutes

§ 5-556. Child abuse.
 

(a)  Notice of report.- In addition to any other provision of law relating to child abuse and neglect, a local department that receives a report of suspected child abuse under § 5-704 or § 5-705 of this title that concerns a family day care home shall notify the State Superintendent's designee within 48 hours. 

(b)  Multidisciplinary team - Convention.- Upon receipt of the notification required under subsection (a) of this section, the State Superintendent's designee shall convene, either in person or by telephone, a multidisciplinary team to coordinate procedures in accordance with the agreement developed under § 5-706(e) of this title to be followed in investigating and otherwise responding to the report. 

(c)  Multidisciplinary team - Chairperson; composition.- The multidisciplinary team shall be chaired by the State Superintendent's designee and shall include: 

(1) representatives of the local department and law enforcement agency that are investigating the report under § 5-706 of this title; 

(2) representation from the office of the local State's Attorney; and 

(3) appropriate medical, including mental health, expertise. 

(d)  Multidisciplinary team - Sharing information generally.- Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the members of the multidisciplinary team shall share information necessary to carry out the team's responsibility under this section. 

(e)  Multidisciplinary team - Confidentiality of shared information.- Any information shared by the multidisciplinary team shall be confidential and may be disclosed only in accordance with the provisions of §§ 1-201, 1-202, 1-204, and 1-205 of the Human Services Article. 

(f)  Assistance of law enforcement agencies.- Upon request, the Department of State Police shall provide technical assistance to a local law enforcement agency which is investigating a report of suspected child abuse concerning a family day care home. 
 

[1989, ch. 514, § 2; 1990, ch. 6, § 2; 1994, ch. 165, § 3; ch. 166, § 3; 1995, ch. 3, § 2; 2005, ch. 585, § 5; 2007, ch. 8, § 1.]